Norwegian police were ordered to carry firearms during the Easter holiday week after domestic intelligence agency PST issued a new terror evaluation. It warns that churches and other religious gathering places can be targets of a new terrorist attack.
The terror warning is based on recent Islamic extremist propaganda that’s directed at Christian targets. Warnings of attacks against Jewish targets have also been sharpened.
That’s prompted what Norwegian police call a “temporary” arming of police on patrol who normally are unarmed. Tone Vangen, director of preparedness for the state police directorate, told state broadcaster NRK that it’s a “preventive measure” based on “a combination of the religious holidays and larger gatherings of people.” The order to arm will run from Wednesday March 27 to Tuesday April 2.
The police arming also follows the recent terrorist attack at a concert outside Moscow that killed more than 100 people and wounded many more. The extremist organization Islamic State (IS) has taken responsibility for the attack.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
